A serious game of cops and robbers

Tuesday

Jan 21, 2014 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - The Stockton Police Department is in hiring mode. Part of that effort includes providing an avenue to channel the interests of young people into a law enforcement career, laying the groundwork for the force of the future.

Joe Goldeen

STOCKTON - The Stockton Police Department is in hiring mode. Part of that effort includes providing an avenue to channel the interests of young people into a law enforcement career, laying the groundwork for the force of the future.

During an open house and demonstration program Monday, a couple of dozen police officers assisted the department's crew of 15 junior cadets - ages 14 to 171/2 - to give about 50 interested high school students a little taste of police work and view some of the activities cadets are involved in during their monthly training meetings.

One of the youngest junior cadets, 14-year-old Michael Tabor, has had his sights set on a law enforcement career for as long as he can remember. He joined the program four months ago after his mother, also interested in becoming a police officer, told him about it.

"I want to learn what the police officer does. I want to make this city a better place," said the Stockton native and freshman at McNair High School who plans on studying criminal justice in college.

A couple of fellow students from McNair, Miguel Jurado and Aqib Ali, both seniors and 17, came to the junior cadet open house at the McKinley Community Center in south Stockton to learn what the program is all about.

"I always thought cops were cool. I know it's dangerous, but someone's got to make a difference," Jurado said.

His friend Ali believes that having "Junior Police Cadet" on a résumé will look good when he seeks employment in law enforcement. First, though, he plans on enlisting in the Air Force after high school.

During the open house, the potential new recruits got to see how junior cadets train to conduct a building search and make a felony traffic stop. They witnessed teams of cadets cooperating and coordinating tactics as a disciplined unit to keep themselves safe and achieve their goal, whether it's "clearing" rooms in a house or arresting a potentially dangerous suspect out on the street.

They get tested during competitions with other programs around the state. Most recently, they took second place in team relay at an event in Paso Robles.

The 30-year-old junior cadet program is a partnership among the Police Department, the Stockton Unified School District and the Boy Scouts, operating as an Explorer post in which girls are welcome and are active participants.

During the three-hour meetings one Sunday a month, time is spent in physical training, learning different duties of a police officer and planning for events such as parades and the Stockton Asparagus Festival, during which the junior cadets are expected to volunteer to work alongside a sworn officer, community service officer or adult police volunteer.

Andrew Goodwin, 16, a junior cadet since June, is still deciding between a career in engineering or police work, but right now, he's just having fun alongside fellow cadets.

"This could lead me to a future in law enforcement. During every activity, I'm meeting new people, learning new things. If I go into police work, I could at least try to make Stockton better than it is now," said Goodwin, a junior at Lincoln High.

His cousin, Joseph Goodwin, 16 and a junior at Stagg High, also liked the social aspect of junior cadets.

"It's like a second family for us. It wasn't awkward - they didn't look at me funny when I joined back in August," he said.

Junior cadet veteran Anthony Rocha, 15, had the same experience after he joined a year ago, following in the footsteps of an older brother. "It was pretty cool. He got me into it, and I came to love it," the Lincoln sophomore said.

During a short presentation, Police Chief Eric Jones told the potential candidates that "a lot of very successful people have gone through the cadet program - doctors, lawyers, even a former police chief."

Jones said it is a wonderful way to volunteer to help the community and an excellent pathway to a future police job. "We are looking for some home-grown law enforcement professionals in the city of Stockton," he said.

Contact reporter Joe Goldeen at (209) 546-8278 or jgoldeen@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/goldeenblog and on Twitter @joegoldeen.